DES MOINES – State Senator Janet Petersen of Des Moines, who in a press release describes herself as “a successful advocate of state help for Iowa food banks and the floor manager of a tax credit for farmers that donate produce to food banks,” has issued this statement in response to Governor Branstad’s comments on the farm bill debate:
It will take more than a vague, feel good statement to pass the farm bill. Governor Branstad, as a Republican, can make a difference by calling on House Republicans to stop blocking assistance to hungry families and children. The farm bill is stalled because House Republicans removed food aid that has always been part of this legislation.
“Governor Branstad, I heard you speak at the Iowa Hunger Summit less than two weeks ago, praising Republican Governor Bob Ray’s work to prevent hunger. Have you already forgotten this month’s report that showed more than a quarter of Iowans have been unable to buy food and almost half know a family member, neighbor or friend who is at risk of hunger? It is time to use your voice to help pass the farm bill and feed hungry Iowans.”
Able-bodied people on welfare need to get off their butts and learn to grow their own gardens and can or freeze fruits and vegetables like people had to do during the depression. I do agree with Peter L on this issue. Fenced community garden spaces are a great idea for those without space. We need to make these people learn how to cook with staples instead of popping crap into the microwave. It would save our government trillions.
Farmers are only millionaires on paper unless they sell their land NOW. I remember all too well the late 70’s when farm land was $2,000/acre and farmers were borrowing against that value and got into big trouble because if it. It’s going to happen again.
“Farmers are only millionaires on paper unless they sell their land NOW. I remember all too well the late 70′s when farm land was $2,000/acre and farmers were borrowing against that value and got into big trouble because if it. It’s going to happen again.”
Agree! The bubble will burst, and it’ll be worse than last time because of the extremely high prices farmers are paying for land. How soon they forget the mistakes of the past!
and what do they eat while you are teaching them?
dunn-That’s what jobs are for. If you can’t feed yourself or your family, get a job and pay your way. That is, unless you want to be a welfare leech and suck off the govt.
you really need to get out into the real world. You don’t have a clue about what it’s like. Put your computer down and step outside. Stop into Walmart or MacDonald’s a see how hard those people are working and then realize that there are people all over north Iowa working just as hard and not making a living wage. Your answer let them starve. It isn’t worth anymore of my time discussing with you about the facts of life. You live in a bubble.
dunn-In response, please see my post, this site, dtd Nov. 2, 2013 @10:19pm. In addition, how many of these welfare leeches smoke, drink alcohol, and have cell phones? So again, why should they work, or even look for work, when the govt. gives them welfare, and they still have their toys to play with? I’m curious. What does it feel like to be painting the floor of a room, and find you have painted yourself in a corner with no way out? (Do you catch the analogy here?)
dunn-I am still waiting for a reply to my post, but if you would rather wriggle away in the grass and avoid confrontation, that’s ok too.
How can we spend billions rebuilding other countries, countries that attacked us, while our own people are hungry? Who thought that up? This is all political. How can we justify a farm bill to protect farmers from failure while the land they are walking across is worth up to 14k an acre? This automatically make 98% of the farmers millionaires. The food stamp program should have never been seprated from the farm bill, that was political and the poor & hungry are not pawns to politicans.
Food Stamps should be separate from the Farm Bill. Both should stand or fail on their own. The reason there is a reduction in foods stamps this month is due to Obama and his feel good wife stealing money from the program to support her project in the schools.
That is not the reason for the cuts. The House wants to cut $39 billion from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) which was once called food stamps. The Senate wants to cut $3.9 billion. Both plans are over a 10 year period. The money that is being cut today is part of the phase out of extra funds allocated to SHAP in the midst of the 2009 recession.
@Bodacious-Bull. It is because they stole money from the SNAP program to fund the school program that Obama’s wife promoted. They have known this for over a year.
do you have any proof of the theft? I’m pretty sure Bodacious is right on this one. No matter it is a real shame that people in the US are going hungry.
@dr dunn-I believe the real shame is that there are people in the US who are happier not working and living off the rest of us who work, pay taxes, and suffer with a govt. that enables these losers to get away with it.
on this one you are totally clueless. There is a small amount of welfare fraud that goes on. About 3%. The rest are the working poor, the elderly, the handicapped. So as much as they would like to work or get a better paying job, they can’t. Don’t punish 97% of welfare recipient’s for the crimes of 3%. For every $1 in food stamps spent it generates $1.70 into the local economy.
@dr dunn-You are so right. And on Christmas, Santa Claus comes. On Easter, the easter bunny comes. And if you lose a tooth, the tooth fairy comes, takes the tooth, and leaves money in its place. It’s ok. Just take your meds and go to bed. Nighty night.
the facts and truths hurt don’t they.
Oh yes, they really do. Now you go to bed so you can be up early to watch cartoons. And if you want, you can have frosted flakes for breakfast. Won’t that be nice. And when you grow up, maybe we’ll let you talk to adults.
I just love how your posts contain so many facts. But I guess the thing is facts don’t support your opinions thus you couldn’t post any could you? So I will just ignore your childish jabbering and name calling and suggest you do some homework before you make yourself look more ignorant that you already have.
@dr dunn-The working poor-let them find a better job. The elderly-they should have planned for their later years. If they didn’t, why is it the govt.s job to finance their incompetence? The handicapped-assist them as needed, not as wanted or desired. As to them wanting to work and get a good paying job-why should they when they can live off the govt? The major difference between you and I is that you look at things subjectively-emotionally. You look at things as you would like them to be, with empathy, sympathy, how much we can help other people. I look at things objectively-as they are, devoid of personal feelings. You see, most questions can be answered by a “yes” or “no”. It’s only when you throw subjectivity in and prevaricate about the issue being debated that problems arise.
@DR Dunn-I just read your question and the only proof was a newscast by ABC the other day. I was surprised to hear him say that. I think they thought the Farm Bill would settled and no one would know or care. It is just like congress stealing from Social Security. They put in I.O.U.’s but never pay it back. The rest of your comments on this subject I tend to agree with. It is totally unrealistic to have people going hungry in this country. As far as coming down on disablity and other retirements, that is completely stupid and most of the politicians know it. You talk about shooting the economy in the foot, that would certainly do it. Even the reduction is S.N.A.P. is going to affect the economy. We are in to deep to quit now. Although, I do think they should go after the fraud harder as it cost all of us. The problem is they always seem to go after the wrong people.
@DR Dunn-Now, all that being said, I think the S.N.A.P. program should be separate from the Farm Bill. Both should stand on their own. I really don’t think the reduction in food stamps will make that big a difference but I am concerned if they do it once they will do it again. A lot of retired people and children depend on the program. If they could just somehow weed out the cheaters they could save a ton of money. Once again, they always cut the wrong people.
anonymous again these are just your opinions and they only count to you. Your last post tells me you aren’t living in the “real” world. You just don’t go get a better paying job and most when they retired thought they had planned well and indeed a lot were told they had. So we just let them go hungry now because they lived longer than expected or they had a major house repair needed or inflation has eaten up their income or because there aren’t enough good paying jobs? I admit that I am a very caring individual. I don’t think that is a bad thing. What I do think is bad is how you and other like you can only think of what is best for yourself and damned the others.
dr dunn-Your post is a synopsis of the food stamp/welfare contingents’ national anthem. Poor pitiful me. I can’t take care of myself. The world is against me. Please, Mr. Govt.,take care of me. Pay for my food, my car, my cigarettes, my cell phone. Give me money that the hard working Americans who pay taxes and stand on their own two feet pay in so you can give it away. And why aren’t the names of people on welfare posted so we know who they are? Any time I have asked that ques, the response I get is that we don’t wish to cause them any embarrassment. Trust me, if they had any pride in the first place, they wouldn’t be asking for welfare.
Food stamps are welfare and need to be addressed separately from any farm bill.
As long as we link the two both are held hostage, political games are played, all of which defeats clear consideration of either. That’s why we are seeing statements like Petersen’s.
The farm bill is welfare also…
Good point.